The color of Divinity II - The truth of Legends

The color of Divinity
By Ellnyon

Notes: And chapter 4. Took longer than I hoped but it’s finally here! All about TCD in www.edyane.webs.com. Not finished but you’re welcome to visit anytime. Once more, I’d like to thank everyone following this story, especially those who rate and review. It’s your encouragement that really keeps me going! I sincerely hope you enjoy yet another chapter of this long story…


Part II
Chapter 4

The sun shone brightly in the late morning sky. It was going to be another exhausting hot day. Everyone had known that beforehand, however, and that was the reason why the caravans and merchants had departed so early in the dawn.

Inside an old wagon, sitting in a thick cloth, next to large casks of water and boxes filled with potatoes, carrots, turnips and several other vegetables and fruits, Midaen’niel glanced through the front opening of his covered cart.

The plan Yari’niel had come up with was rather safe comparing to the alternative the blond Ethen had thought of. Of course the Eth, being above suspicion regarding Nlie’sieri’s spies, had other options available to him. As it was, he had personally escorted the Siekih Lessin to a military caravan of supplies destined to his brothers’ training camp in the southeast of Meya, near N’Alaera’s border.

Staring absent-mindedly at the red Gya’ana trotting in front of his wagon, Midaen’niel recalled the conversation with the Rarin noble the night before.

&&&&&&&

The golden-haired Ethen entered the small bedroom, a bit unsure of why the Eth was leading him there. Looking around the place, he noticed how the inside of the quarters were alike the rest of the small house and the outside of the building they were part of. Not luxurious, but cozy and well-kept. The painting hanging at the far wall showed a happy family of six brothers and their parents. Another family who had been divided by war. Midaen’niel didn’t know why Yari’niel Rarin was working for Nlie’sieri, but he had a feeling that empty family house had something to do with it.

The Eth closed the door behind the Ethen after having lighted a few candles and grabbed an armchair, placing it near the small desk by the closed window. He dusted it briefly, gesturing for the Ethen with a bow.

“Please. It’s not what you’re used to, but...” He said, lowering his eyes in awkward shyness.

“It’s fine. Thank you.” The blond Ethen had no troubles in accepting and sat down on the offered chair. As the tall man had warned him, the seat was not of expensive, soft material, but Midaen’niel couldn’t say he really cared about that. What this man was doing for him was something far more valuable. Also, the ambience of this room in particular and of the house in general relaxed him, somehow.

Looking around, he wasn’t quite sure that was a good thing. After all, he had never been in the bedroom of an Eth who was not family or a well-known servant and certainly not alone in it with the owner. Even if Midaen’niel trusted the man was helping him, he was a fertile Ethen: he couldn’t help thinking about certain things. Unconsciously, his eyes stopped on the standard bed, covered with a beige quilt, and he wondered if the tall, healthy and rather attractive Eth next to him would think about such, too.

“I wish I could go to protect you, but if I or an escort follows you right now, it’ll raise suspicion.” The strong voice startled the blond Ethen out of his embarrassing thoughts. Thinking he had been caught staring at places (and especially imagining things) he should not, Midaen’niel glanced at Yari’niel with flushed cheeks, but, fortunately, the man had his back to him.

He was rummaging through the desk’s drawers. Finally encountering what he was looking for, he took out two pieces of vellum and a quill from the second right drawer and pulled a chair for himself.

“I have a better idea.” He continued, while sitting down and starting scribbling on the papers after dipping the feather tip into the small inkwell in the upper corner of the desk. “There’s a caravan of supplies leaving in the morning for my brothers’ training camp near the border. They are camped right outside the capitol’s south gates. I’m writing a memo to the captain of the caravan saying you carry a missive for my brothers. They are simple men, some guards and a few low-class knights, so they won’t recognize you as long as you don’t tell them who you are. They are also honored: they will respect and look after an Ethen traveling with them and since it’s a military caravan, your horse or a weapon won’t draw strange looks. It’ll be slower than just riding, but a lot safer and the closest thing to an escort you can afford for now. Meanwhile, I’ll stay behind to wrap loose ends and pull some strings around here to make sure Nlie’sieri’s spies stay away from your tracks for now. If all goes well, I’ll join you and the convoy in three days.” Midaen’niel nodded and smiled gratefully.

“Thank you.” Busy folding the papers he had been scribbling on, the noble Eth didn’t face Midaen’niel, but still shook his head.

“Don’t thank me yet. Listen carefully. Let’s hope not, but just in case something happens to me, you’ll take this…” Using a nearby candle to melt a bit of sealing wax into both the folded vellum, he stamped his family ring into it, sealing the letters with his crest. Only then did he turn in the blonde’s direction.

Taking hold of the Ethen’s hands with his own, he placed one of the sealed papers in the delicate ones. “When you get to the camp, search for the Rarin brothers.” He explained, gazing directly into Midaen’niel’s eyes. The Ethen flushed a little at the proximity of the Eth’s face, but forced himself to listen to the man’s words instead of letting his thoughts travel a different direction.

“They are three boys in their twenties, very like me. Show them this letter. Tell them who you are and why you are there. Their camp was supposed to be the next one to join our armies in the war, so they have been in contact and forcefully know their whereabouts.” Midaen’niel frowned.

“But this way, and with your crest, they’ll know you were the one who helped me. What if Nlie’sieri has spies-” Yari’niel interrupted softly with a shrug and a bitter smile.

“It’s unavoidable.” He affirmed. “Besides even if I’m not able to join you, I won’t let them catch you before you reach the camp. And you only have to worry in that case. Prince Nlie’sieri has no men in the armies yet, they are too faithful to Prince Delaen’niel. You only have to tell them you have urgent news from the capitol to deliver and they won’t hesitate in taking you to him.” Midaen’niel looked sadly to the left and sighed.

“I’m sorry. I’m making you risk your life, as well.” He apologized softly. The grip Yari’niel had in his hand intensified and the Eth extended his own right hand to the blonde’s chin, fingering the soft skin and urging the Ethen to face him. Midaen’niel regarded the man carefully, noticing the desiring gleam in the intense look he was receiving.

“It’s my honor to serve you and my country, Milessin.” The Eth said simply, before he raised and kissed Midaen’niel’s hand. Not used to this passionate sort of interest, the Ethen was a bit uncomfortable with the sudden intimacy with an unfamiliar Eth. Not that he really disliked it, everybody wants to feel desired, he just felt ill at ease in this whole situation. And this, more than anything, shocked Midaen’niel into distressed silence.

Eths were, most of the time, cold and courteous to Ethen. They did not act ardently, much less lustful. The blond Lessin had always thought that was a pity, for an Ethen will never really feel wanted or desired in his life. Adding to the typical aloofness of Eths, Ethen are also betrothed at a very young age and unable to refuse their fiancé if chosen by their family. What is yet another impediment to romance. Of course Eths give gifts and whatnot to their promised Ethen, but the majority of them are merely a display of their wealth and meant to please all the family.

Midaen’niel wanted to be the object of an intense, passionate love. Certainly, he wished to be respected and appreciated, but also desired, needed and loved. His intended had given him many material offerings but never those feelings. Midaen’niel often wondered if the man even remembered he existed most of the time.

Yes, Lnorien Erephine intrigued him. He was mysterious, strong, wise and everybody who knew the man spoke of him with admiration and respect. That Eth was always on the blonde’s mind and he wanted to be on the man’s mind as well. But Midaen’niel was afraid that was just wishful thinking. The Erephine heir seemed to not even care and his betrothed had decided, sometime ago, he would stop caring as well.

So why was Midaen’niel feeling so awkward now, when he was actually receiving the attentions he craved? From an attractive young noble who comprehended him and was risking his own safety for him, no less. It troubled him in a way he could not begin to explain. Was his mind still wary of his society’s prejudices? It couldn’t be that. After all, he was running away from home to partake in a war. Then, did that mean his heart was actually still chained to the shadow of a man he didn’t even know?

The blond Ethen lowered his eyes and Yari’niel seemed to understand from just watching his face. With a weak smile and a great amount of disappointment, he let go of the Lessin’s hand and of the cheek he had been caressing. Rising from his seat, he extended a helping hand, instead, his suitable politeness returning.

“Come. I will take you to the caravan’s camp. I have to speak to the captain so they’ll take good care of you. If someone asks, your horse is mine and you’re…hum…my company for the night. Do you agree?” Having taken the offered hand, Midaen’niel looked surprised at the man’s suggestion while still holding his hand, but almost instantly comprehended what he was trying to cover with that lie and nodded. Yari’niel nodded as well.

“The dawn is breaking, let’s make haste.”

&&&&&&&

“Milessin, could you please refill this canteen with some cool water?” Midaen’niel looked left to the thirsty guard who had awakened him from his reminiscences. The Ethen immediately nodded with a pleasant smile, trying to be useful in some way, since he was traveling for free.

“Of course.” He said, extending his arm to grab the flask. The guard smiled politely in return, but just couldn’t avoid watching the beautiful Ethen as he gracefully lifted up the lid of one of the water barrels and dipped the opened canteen into the cool water.

Being an Ethen, Midaen’niel had almost been forced inside one of the covered wagons, in the cool shade and away from the scorching sun. The other Eths of the caravan weren’t that lucky, though, some traveling on horseback, others leading the carts or simply moving on foot, but all of them suffering from the hardships of the blazing sun on their bodies. The wagons were there to carry the goods, not to protect the travelers from the sun.

Feeling like an opportunist (and also a little like cargo), at first Midaen’niel refused the offer, but then he realized that he didn’t exactly have a choice in the matter. After trying to reason with them for some minutes, Midaen’niel noticed the thirty Eths of the caravan would not advance further until he was snugly accommodated into their cleanest wagon and eventually climbed into it.

As the time passed and the sun began to actually sting, Midaen’niel became the caravan’s official water boy, refilling the soldiers’ canteens from the water barrels next to him. In the beginning the guards assigned to protect him warned the other Eths, but since the Ethen didn’t seem to mind, they stopped talking about it. His wagon wasn’t the only one carrying the precious liquid, but everyone came to him and he was thankful he was able to help a little.

Returning the canteen, Midaen’niel smiled softly at the guard. “Here you go.” The man bowed and thanked him, politely.

The blond Ethen knew no one recognized him as a prince, but most of them behaved like he was one nevertheless. As Yari’niel had explained to him, the true important knights and guards of Meya were fighting in the war or training to join it. Therefore, the Eths protecting the caravan were poor, simple and honored men. Most of them were devoted to warfare or their masters. They wouldn’t even think of getting close to an Ethen, much less marry one.

So, his presence there made them somewhat uncomfortable, especially because, due to his striking features and kind demeanor, he wasn’t just someone they could easily ignore. Still, they all treated him with politeness and respect, bowing and smiling whenever they caught his eye. Midaen’niel had even been ordered to ask his protectors for anything he might need that they would provide it right away.

The captain of the convoy, a middle-aged Eth with a black beard and imposing figure, had first been against Midaen’niel joining his caravan, suggesting some other non-military convoy. “Ethen don’t travel with military caravans of supplies. They are meant to carry goods, not people. My wagons don’t have the conditions to accommodate an Ethen, much less a noble one.” He had said.

However, when Yari’niel explained he feared for the safety of both his purebred Gya’ana horse and his dear Ethen cousin, the captain looked closely at the Ethen and the horse and seemed to understand his concerns. After a little discussion, the older Eth eventually accepted their request to take both of them safely to the military camp near N’Alaera’s border, but refused any kind of payment. A military caravan served the knights of Meya, they were not merchants.

In the end, the captain had rode alongside Midaen’niel for the first hour of the journey, conversing about this and that, but never actually intruding in his life. He excused himself when some trouble occurred in a wagon a little ahead and actually seemed sad he had to end their conversation.

The rather long military convoy moved at a quick, regular pace throughout the sandy roads across the country. Although it didn’t reach the speed a lone rider would, it was still a lot faster than Midaen’niel had hoped and he was grateful for that.

Destined to supply the biggest and most advanced training camp in Meya, they had a tight schedule and couldn’t afford to arrive late. Midaen’niel was actually quite surprised at the diversity of goods the caravan carried. There were twenty wagons filled with anything and everything. Vegetables, fruit, cereals, salt meat, water, clothing, weapons, raw materials, wax, parchment, chalk, warhorses, messenger steeds, even live animal stock. It was amazing. Midaen’niel had never seen anything like it.

As the morning progressed and the caravan journeyed south towards the River Maguerer, Meya’s capitol city became lost in the distance. Midaen’niel felt relief, satisfaction but also apprehension at the sight of unknown landscapes.

On one hand he was glad he had managed to overcome the two first steps of his mission. The first one had been to find the courage to do what he needed to do, risking the disappointment of his father and leaving the safety of his home. The second consisted of departing from the capitol without Nlie’sieri’s knowledge. But this last one had almost resulted in a disastrous failure. He had spent very frightful moments the night before and his helplessness then also made him uneasy.

He didn’t know what dangers and complications expected him in his journey. And his failed attempt to escape the capitol unnoticed was proof that he had not been as prepared to face the difficulties as he had hoped. Fortunately, thanks to Maguenta and a great amount of luck, he had encountered someone willing to help him. But the fact Yari’niel was putting is life in jeopardy now as well only served to increase his worry.

&&&&&&&

The tall brown-haired Eth entered the luxurious, large study and immediately kneeled on one knee, bowing his head at the man behind the exclusive mahogany desk, in more fear than reverence.

“You sent for me, Your Highness?” He asked in the same position, not daring to raise his eyes to the red-haired prince. An unnecessary caution seeing as the high class noble was actually facing the window located also behind his expensive desk.

Nlie’sieri didn’t answer Yari’niel right away, maintaining an awkward silence between them for a long time. The kneeling Eth took this as a bad sign, for the second prince was hardly a man who wasted time on anything or anyone as insignificant as the low class noble unless he wanted to make a point.

Risking a glance to the prince’s back, Yari’niel stared for a moment. The second prince had his hair neatly braided with golden thread and with the morning sun creating a halo around it, his hair almost looked blond. Looking at his back and with his hair tied like that, Yari’niel almost thought Nlie’sieri was in fact his older brother, Prince Delaen’niel.

The first prince was the one who usually had his long hair tied in a simple braid. Nlie’sieri always had it shorter. Lately, though, the second prince had started to grow it, too, using his physical resemblances with his brother to gain the trust of the Eths still supporting the first prince. On the whole, just physical appearances wouldn’t be enough, but complemented with Nlie’sieri’s great act as a nice man, they seemed to be doing the trick so far.

Hearing steps behind him in the far back of the room, Yari’niel realized he and the prince weren’t alone in the study and lowered his eyes again. It was probably the prince’s tutor: Lien’nier. The old man followed his former pupil everywhere, most often than not, appearing from the shadows like a ghost. Still, the brown-haired Rarin noble couldn’t turn and confirm it because the prince chose that time to finally start talking.

“Lord Yari’niel, did anything happen during your stakeout last night?” Nlie’sieri asked in a sarcastic tone, turning and facing the kneeling Eth. Yari’niel could feel his heart starting to pound with worry and fear. The prince was acting too strangely for this to be a harmless conversation. Usually, he never asked. His spies came to him to report if anything was amiss, not the other way round. Did Nlie’sieri suspect or know about his betrayal? Hadn’t they been careful enough? Ignoring the prince’s tone on purpose, he wisely tried to answer as coolly as he would during normal circumstances. It wasn’t easy, though.

“I have nothing unusual to report, Your Highness.” He said firmly, but inside he was shaking. The royal noble smirked, crossed the room with three long strides and stopped near the kneeling spy. With a white gloved hand, Nlie’sieri grabbed the other man’s hair in a strong grip and jerked his head back, violently.

Tears welled in Yari’niel’s eyes from the sudden movement at the same time he tried to maintain his balance without upsetting the second prince even further.

“Don’t lie to me!” Said prince growled before he smacked Yari’niel’s head hard into the ground. Nursing a bloody nose, the spy remained kneeling and quiet as the prince stepped back from him.

“Are you an idiot? Or do you think me an idiot? I have twenty spies in this city. Do you think I don’t know what you did?” Nlie’sieri started, angry. Then he pointed a finger at the brown-haired Eth and continued.

“Lien’nier warned me about these tendencies of yours. You really can’t resist an Ethen, can you? Honestly, leaving your post to go fuck a street Ethen, instead?! Is this how you waste my precious gold? With peasant Ethen whores?” Outside, Yari’niel looked mortified. Inside, though, he was almost giddy with relief. Thank Maguenta! His plan had worked. Now, he just had to resume his act from the previous night.

“Forgive me, Your Highness. But everything was quiet in the Siekih’s manor and it was almost the end of my shift. I didn’t think it would make a big difference if I left a little earlier. He was a merchant that was going to leave in the dawn. I didn’t have much time. I even had to take him to his carav-” Huffing, the prince stopped in front of the Eth and kicked his shin to end the blabbering. Yari’niel interrupted his rehearsed speech and waited for the prince’s next words in silence.

“I didn’t ask for an explanation and I don’t care shit where you go or what you do on your free time, as long as you perform your duties rightfully, of course.” Nlie’sieri replied, bored, and one could tell he was a lot calmer now. Still, Yari’niel thought better to apologize once more.

“Forgive me, Your Highness.” The prince nodded.

“Well, this is the first time you disappoint me and fortunately it wasn’t that critical. It could have been, but it wasn’t. The other spies didn’t report anything other than your lack of decorum either, so I’ll let it pass. Next time you fail to complete my orders, however, I’ll have your head decorating my wall. Am I clear?” Yari’niel nodded softly.

“Yes, Your Highness. It won’t happen again.” He answered, but he knew he wasn’t off the hook yet. No way would the second prince let him go without a physical reprimand to mark his deviance.

“Good. Now, what punishment shall I give you?” The prince pondered. If he didn’t know something painful was coming, Yari’niel would have rejoiced at his knowledge of that prince’s ways. “Five lashes is fair I believe. What do you think, am I not being merciful?” Yari’niel didn’t quite understand if that had been a rhetorical question or not, but he answered favorably, just in case.

“Yes, Your Highness, you are.” And the prince was right. Compared to some punishments the spy had seen that man deliver, his was actually the lighter he had witnessed. Of course, to regain the man’s trust, he needed to show some remorse of his own for displeasing his master… Oh well, he had been expecting far worse, anyway.

Appearing to sense the honesty in Yari’niel’s answer, Nlie’sieri smiled, pleased, and walked to his armchair behind the mahogany desk.

“Hurry up and call one of the guards outside so that we can end this subject. I don’t have all day and neither do you. I have a new job for you and we can’t waste any time.” He ordered, while sitting down.

&&&&&&&

Lien’nier had been watching the entire exchange from his seat in the far corner of the room. Rising only when Yari’niel left the study to fetch the guard, he then approached the desk where his former pupil was already sorting through some papers. Pulling a cushioned bench, he sat down again, this time next to the prince and looked at him with an annoyed frown.

The prince endured the stare for a few seconds, but eventually gave in.

“What?” He asked. Taking Nlie’sieri’s question as permission to speak freely, Lien’nier voiced his thoughts.

“Lord Yari’niel’s story matches the information we have. He got lustful when seeing an Ethen on the back alleys and took him home for some fun, an hour or so before his shift ended. Knowing him, I can’t say I’m surprised. Still, he has never so much as displeased you before in the past ten years. And that is something you can’t say from your every ally, is it? Was it really necessary such a punishment, my prince?” The prince scoffed.

“It’s just five lashes, Lien’nier. I hardly consider that a punishment.” The tutor frowned, serious.

“One lash would’ve been enough a reminder of his mistake.” The prince turned his face to the older Eth.

“This way, I’m more confident he’ll think twice about contesting my orders before following some Ethen like a stray animal.” Lien’nier rolled his eyes and sighed, but didn’t retort.

A few minutes later, a sequence of knocks on the door signaled the return of the brown-haired Rarin noble. With him came a bulky guard holding a leather whip in hand. It was a common sight in that room, the second prince being rather fond of that type of punishment.

They both kneeled, the prince nodded his head and Yari’niel stood and started to remove his cape and shirt. He was about to brace against a column in the middle of the room, when Nlie’sieri glared at him.

“Not there! On that column in the back. I don’t want my new carpet stained with blood...and please refrain from screaming, you know how I hate it.” He informed, annoyed, at the same time he focused on his work again. The Eths bowed one more time and did as they were told.

The guard was about to start the whipping when he realized he didn’t know the number of lashes yet. Not daring to ask the prince directly, he asked the about-to-be-punished noble instead.

“Ten.” Yari’niel answered firmly. Hearing this, the prince looked up from his papers and arched his eyebrows. Immensely pleased with his spy, he turned to Lien’nier, smiling. The latter seemed as surprised as his former student.

“Stupid, but committed. Just my kind of guy.” Nlie’sieri whispered. His advisor shrugged, thinking, now more than ever, that such punishment was truly unnecessary.

&&&&&&&

Blood splashed the tiled floor as the lashes sounded, but Yari’niel endured it silently, without letting out a single whimper. Satisfied, the prince raised his hand by the seventh lash and the guard stopped.

“That is enough. Go call someone to clean this mess.” He ordered the bulkier Eth. Said guard bowed and left the room. Yari’niel staggered a little in pain when he straightened up, but carefully managed to grab his shirt and put it on. It immediately became wet with the blood on his back. The prince looked at him as he made an effort to reach his cape.

“Before you go to the healers, I must inform you of your new job.” Yari’niel faced the prince, bowing his head to listen and Nlie’sieri continued.

“My dear future brother-in-law is leaving on an unexpected journey, tomorrow morning. Because I don’t trust his ‘I’m going to help my cousin in the preparations of his coming celebration’ speech, you are going to follow him. Ethen, my faithful knight, are cunning little creatures, you never know what they’re planning. Remember this.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” Yari’niel nodded, but inside he was smirking. That idiotic prince had no idea what Ethen were capable of. And Maguenta favored them with amazing luck. Against all odds, their plans couldn’t work better than this. Lessin Iararin’ne only had to worry about Nlie’sieri’s spies on his journey and the prince ordered the only spy the Ethen had on their side to follow him. Said spy needed to leave the capitol to protect Lessin Midaen’niel and he didn’t even need to ask for some days off, because the prince had been the one to send him on a journey, instead.

“Anyway, go alone or take some men with you, I don’t care. Just make sure to send me a message if you happen to witness anything unusual. And just so you know, this time you even have my permission to fuck Iararin’ne’s Ethen attendants. Just stay clear of Iararin’ne himself or his brother will skin you alive. Not even I can control Lian’niel when he’s enraged. My advisor Lien’nier will explain the details when you return from the healers. You are dismissed.” The prince concluded with a hand gesture. Yari’niel bowed as best as he could without aggravating his wounds.

“Excuse me, Your Highness.” He said, turning to leave.

“Lord Yari’niel, don’t disappoint me again.” The prince advised, looking at the papers in his desk. Already opening the door, the other Eth faced the red-haired man and bowed his head again.

“I won’t, Your Highness.” He lied and then left, already thinking of a way to help Lessin Iararin’ne in his quest to get to N’Alaera, before he left to join Lessin Midaen’niel.

TBC…


Ending notes: Oh man, this chapter was so very hard to write. I couldn’t get it right no matter what. Looking back to when I started imagining this story, this part has turned out so different… Anyway, I’m not killing Yari’niel, but he still gets to suffer. MWAHAHA! I am evil.